Cindy finally stirred. Dad loomed over her as she rubbed her swollen eyes and sniffed some of the built up snot in her nose. Her heart ached and she wanted to do anything to forget. Hugging herself she looked up at her Dad.

“We better start helping Dad. The town is going to need our help to rebuild.” Cindy’s throat hurt from all the wailing she had lost herself to. Images of people fading into light echoed in her mind. “We have to be strong right?”

Dad looked sad as he looked down at her, “We should talk more. You need…”

“Dad,” Cindy cut him off. “I can’t. Not right now.”

The deep sigh Dad let out washed her in the wind of his breath. “Ok, but when you’re ready we need to talk through all this. It’s not great to keep it all bottled up.”

Cindy looked up at her unphased father and wondered where he found the strength to go through all of this so quickly. It was so hard to feel everything and not let it stop her in her tracks. “Ok,” Cindy looked away. Unsure that she would ever willingly talk about it again.

Dad went to scoop her up, Cindy tightened her arms around herself and pulled away, “I can walk. You don’t need to carry me right now.” Cindy stood up and climbed off the bed as Dad sat there, hands hanging in the air.

Cindy led the way out into the town and it was like walking into an angry ant hill. People called out for hunters to gather all sorts of things that they needed to start rebuilding what was lost. None of the hunters seemed all that willing to take those quests. Again those images of people fading into motes of light came to mind.

Cindy first went to the restaurant. She approached the pig woman who called out for help over and over. Hugging herself Cindy stepped up to her, “What can I do to help?”

The woman looked down and sighed a deep heavy sigh, “Our stores of meat, herbs, and other ingredients were destroyed. We have enough bones to rebuild a pantry but it needs to be refilled so we can help feed the hunters and make them stronger for quests. Will you help?”

Cindy nodded and accepted the quest. A simple collection of raw meat, healing herbs, fish, and buffing mushrooms. She kept her eyes off her Dad as she walked towards the edge of town. Every step she took helped put the pain and anguish behind her as she let her mind focus on the task at hand. She swapped to her gathering goggles so she could see the bundles of collectables. Hunting small monsters would provide the meat.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Dad was silent behind her as he did his best throughout the day to take care of monsters while Cindy immersed herself in finding the gatherable items. A numbness set into Cindy’s movements as she stepped further from her grief. It took half a day to collect everything that was needed and return to the city. She gave everything to the waitress that had helped them a few times and the relief on her face filled Cindy with a sense of accomplishment.

“Are you able to help us more?” Asked the meek woman. “We can feed you a humble meal with what is left of our kitchen. We need to rebuild some of our kitchen to help make more complex meals. Clays, and coals to cook and make an oven. Will you help?”

Cindy nodded.

That was their life for a few days as Cindy ignored the gnawing feeling of pain in the back of her chest. Hiding from the overpowering feelings that were there to swallow her whole once more. She dodged Dad’s every attempt to bring up the discussion they had. Cindy always said she wasn’t ready, that the people needed her to be in top shape so that the town could recover.

Hunters left the town in droves. Several of them vowing never to hunt again after losing friends and teammates. Cindy pretended to be strong for them. She took every quest, every person that needed help rejoiced in seeing her face as she stood straight like Dad and listened to what they needed. No large monsters could be seen near the town, their usual spawning points were vacant and it lead to larger chases into the wild to find any sign of the beasts the people needed ingredients from.

Buildings needed bone, wood, and ivy. The farm was half destroyed and needed new soils, and compost. People needed food from stores that were wiped clean. It all was keeping Cindy busy enough to ignore that pain that waited to swallow her whole every night.

Sleep wouldn’t come in those quiet moments. Cindy could tell Dad wasn’t sleeping either as he waited for her to nod off. Every night she curled up in another bed, no longer wanting to cuddle each night. She would curl into herself and wait for the darkness to swallow her and let her sleep through till she could be busy again. The days she pushed herself really hard made her exhausted enough to pass out straight away.

Cindy grew frustrated as Dad became more and more insistent on talking about what had happened. She just wanted to forget all about it. Wanted to be the hero she was summoned to be. The one that helped people and was stronger than what would stop her. Even if it was a demon king, a monster, or Mom. It took days and then no one needed more help. She felt that sudden feeling of being lost. Things were rebuilt at record speeds, foods lasted much longer.

In return for all their help Cindy had more tennies then she could ever spend. Loads of ingredients for new equipment that seemed unique and would shower her with empowering abilities.

That gnawing was coming back. Like a river eroding a river bank. She turned to Dad. “Looks like everyone has been helped.”

“Are you ready to talk?” Dad asked as he kneeled. He offered his hand once more for her to climb upon and stand on his shoulder once more.

She didn’t belong there. She didn’t deserve that spot. “No, there will be other towns. Evil is loose in this world. We are the heroes. I’ll get all the new equipment and absorb the runes, you gear up as well and then we go. Other people will need us.”

“This isn’t healthy, Badger,” Dad insisted.

“I’m strong now, like you.” Cindy didn’t see the flash of pain in Dad’s eyes. The look of guilt that lay beneath the strong visage of stoicism and power. “I’ll be ok,” Cindy lied.